Hawker Beechcraft has positive 1Q

The new owners of Hawker Beechcraft are starting on a high note. The company announced greatly improved first-quarter earnings last month, with net sales in the first quarter of this year up 32.3 percent from the same period a year ago, to $667.8 million. Hawker Beechcraft delivered 60 turbine aircraft in the first three months of this year, placing it second overall in terms of units shipped. Sales during the first quarter, however, dropped to $499.5 million from $513.8 million in the same period last year. Second-quarter sales should receive a boost from a NetJets Europe order for 32 Hawker 4000s announced at EBACE last month.